The lens of the eye is a transparent crystalline structure located directly behind the pupil. It has 9-10 mm diameter. The eye lens is like a crystal and consists of water and proteins. It is normally transparent to allow light rays to pass to the retina. It is also called the crystalline lens. The image below shows the lens of a calf eye removed and sitting on the palm of a gloved hand. The lens of the human eye looks the same as this lens.

Light rays entering from the pupil pass directly to the lens. If you have contacts, it would penetrate even the famous brand of colored lenses. The image below shows the lens location directly behind the pupil. The lens in the image is of a person has a cataract, and it appears white in color. In normal people, the lens is transparent. And no, that is not a result of buying lenses at a cheaper price!

The main lens function is to refract “bend” light rays and focus them in the eye. It shares this mission along with the cornea. The lens of the eye represents about one-third of the whole refractive power of the eye.

Normally, the lens has fixed power to focus all parallel light rays (coming from 6 meters distance or further). All light rays coming from 6 meters or further need the same power to refract and focus them.

Light rays coming from a distance less than 6 M enters the eye as diverged light rays. These light rays (coming from less than 6 meters) need different power for every distance they come from. Light rays coming from 4 M, for example, need more focusing power than those coming from 5 M. The lens has unique ability to enable it to adjust and tune its power to achieve this mission. This ability is called “accommodation.”

Accommodation

Accommodation is the adjustable change of lens power in order to focus diverge light rays (entering the eye from less than 6 meters) in the retina.

The lens shape is changed to adjust the power of the lens. There are suspensory ligaments of the lens (also called ciliary zonules) attach the eye lens to the ciliary body (which contains the ciliary muscle). They extended (like ropes) from the ciliary body and attached to the equator of the eye lens. These hold the lens in position and enable the ciliary muscle to act on it. The image below illustrates how the lens is attached to the ciliary body (which contains the ciliary muscle).

When a light ray entering the eye from a less 6-meter distance or further, the ciliary muscle is relaxed, and the zonules are in a stretched configuration exerting tension on the lens holding it in the unaccommodated state, such that the image lies on the retina.

When a light ray entering the eye from less than 6-meter distance, the eye needs more refractive power to focus them on the retina. This happens by as the following: the ciliary muscle contracts, the ciliary zonules loosen, and the lens thickens and become more curved, resulting in a rounder shape and thus high refractive power.

This contraction of the ciliary muscles increases the lens power by the appropriate required amount. The more the contraction, the more increase in the refractive power of the lens.

Type two diabetics may have no shortage of insulin, but their muscle, brain, and liver cells sometimes develop a resistance to it, making control of blood sugar difficult. Type two diabetes also doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease when compared to non-diabetics. Cinnamon may play a role in reducing the incidence and severity of these effects.

Complex Processes Regulate Lipids and Glucose

Kinase activity is the physiological key to the mechanisms that signals cells to accept insulin and lower blood sugar. Kinase is a protein enzyme that also plays a role in metabolizing fats. A University of Iowa study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, isolated a methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP) from cinnamon and found it can enter cells and interact with kinase in a way that mimics insulin (1). The Iowa scientists thought at first that cinnamon’s effect might be due to the mineral chromium, a known aid for blood glucose control. They found, however, that the kitchen spice actually has very low levels of chromium.

Maryland Researchers Get Results

In Maryland, in a randomized, controlled study on humans, 60 diabetic patients took either one to three capsules of cinnamon daily or a placebo for 40 days. Blood sugar dropped 18 to 29% in those subjects who took cinnamon, but there was more good news. Triglycerides, a type of fat in the bloodstream that ends up stored in fat cells, fell from 23 to 30%. Triglycerides are associated with obesity and untreated diabetes.

Finally, the subjects who received cinnamon also saw their LDL cholesterol drop from 7 to 27%. LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins, those tiny packages that transport fatty substances through the bloodstream into arteries and deposit it there, while HDL, or high-density lipoproteins, transport cholesterol away from arteries and back to the liver to be broken down. Cinnamon did not change HDL cholesterol. Its impact on LDL cholesterol improved the ratio of HDL to LDL; something doctors think lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. The results of the Maryland study were published in Diabetes Care (2), the magazine of the American Diabetes Association.

There Are Different Types and Ways to Use Cinnamon

Researchers tried different varieties and commercial brands of cinnamon with good results. C. aromaticum, a cinnamon known as cassia, Chines, Saigon, or Korintje cinnamon, is preferred in the United States. C. verum, or Zeylanicum, Ceylon, or “true cinnamon” has a more delicate flavor and is popular in England, Europe, and Mexico. Oils in cinnamon may be toxic at high doses, but the beneficial ingredient is water-soluble, making cinnamon tea a safe choice. Researchers caution diabetics that more is not better; use sensible amounts and monitor blood glucose frequently to avoid episodes of low blood sugar that could be dangerous (3).

Cinnamon is not a cure for diabetes. The best strategy is careful diet and exercise as directed by a healthcare professional. However, with regular use cinnamon may reduce the need for medication and help prevent cardiovascular complications.

References

Karall J. Jarvill-Taylor, Ph.D., et al., A Hydroxychalcone Derived from Cinnamon Functions as a Mimetic for Insulin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 20(4), 2001

Because contact lenses are worn directly on the eye, they can potentially cause side effects. The lenses, roughly the same diameter as a person’s iris, float on a layer of tears right in front of the cornea. Contacts are not “one size fits all,” and in fact must be carefully prescribed to match not only the person’s prescription but his eye size and shape. When they are prescribed and fitted properly, contact lenses provide great vision, including peripheral vision, and they are hardly noticeable.

Contact lens designs have taken advantage of new materials technology and are more comfortable to wear than ever before. Lenses are often coated or impregnated with moisturizing agents that keep the eye from drying out. Ciba Vision is a brand that uses a substance called hydrogel, a substance designed to keep the eye moist all day. Wearers report that they are extremely comfortable. But Ciba Vision isn’t the only brand of contact lenses. Acuvue, made by Johnson & Johnson, is one of the top-selling brands of contact lenses in the world.

Soft lenses

A few decades ago, the only choices in contact lenses were “hard lenses” or “soft lenses.” The vast majority of people who need vision correction can wear soft contact lenses, which are the ones most often seen in advertisements. Contact lenses today are assumed to be soft lenses unless otherwise specified. These can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia (problems with close vision that often develops as people get older), and astigmatism. People who have very mild astigmatism can often rely on the shape of the lens itself to gently push the cornea into a more regular shape, mainly correcting mild astigmatism without having been specifically prescribed with astigmatism correction.

Though the overwhelming majority of contact lenses are soft lenses, there are still some types of hard contacts available. They are made of a stiff plastic called polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA. While they can correct vision problems that may not be manageable with soft contacts, they are the least comfortable contact lenses. There are also rigid gas-permeable lenses, which are more comfortable than PMMA lenses and can be worn overnight for up to one week.

When it comes to soft contact lenses, there are several varieties, including daily wear, disposable, and one-day lenses. Daily wear lenses must be removed at night for cleaning and storage. They’re then put back in the next morning. While they may last for a year and are economical, they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time or in dry, windy weather.

Enzymatic cleaning

With daily wear lenses, weekly enzymatic cleaning is often necessary. This is an extra step in the cleaning process that cleans protein deposits and other substances that can build up on lenses. When daily wear contacts are handled haphazardly, or when cleaning and storage instructions are not followed faithfully, contact lens side effects can include pink eye and even ulceration of the cornea.

Disposable contact lenses may be designed only to be worn during waking hours or to be worn overnight. They are used for a period of one day to one month and then discarded. Lenses designed to be worn for longer than a day have to be cleaned and stored when they are taken out. One-day disposable contact lenses are considered the safest contact lenses available because the only handling they require is that of putting them in and taking them out.

Contact lens side effects are rarer with disposable lenses than with daily wear lenses but can include eye irritation, pink eye, and only very rarely corneal ulceration. They must be fitted and prescribed as carefully as daily wear lenses and must still be handled with clean hands.

Special effects contacts

Some contact lenses are not worn for vision correction at all, but for special effects or fashion. Colored contact lenses are made with varying degrees of tint to subtly or radically alter eye color. The lighter the wearer’s natural eye color, the less tint that is required to change eye color. People with dark eyes must use the so-called opaque contact lenses to change the color of their eyes. Though the tiny dots that make up the color are opaque, they aren’t one solid sheet of color. The circle in the center of the lenses is clear and fits over the wearer’s pupil.

With opaque contact lenses, the circular area over the pupil is of a fixed diameter, and human corneas open wider or get smaller depending on the amount of ambient light available. In conditions of low light, the pupil opens widely, and the opaque portion of the lens may partly cover the outer edges of the pupil, partly obstructing vision. Wearers usually don’t find this to be much of a problem. Another contact lens side effect with opaque colored contact lenses is that they may shift slightly when the wearer blinks. This shifting may cause part of the opaque portion of the lens to block part of the pupil for a brief instant after blinking until the lens shifts back into place. Some of the newer designs claim to stay in place better to combat this problem.

Opaque contact lenses can be made with or without vision correction so that people who have perfect vision can still take advantage of the ability to change eye colors. These lenses, called Plano lenses, still require an eye doctor’s prescription, because in the U.S. all contact lenses are part of the purview of the Food and Drug Administration, which has declared that a prescription is necessary when ordering contact lenses online.

Another just for fun type of contact lens is the special effect lens. These are available from numerous online retailers and are very popular for costume parties, Halloween, and going to clubs in some parts of the world. The special effects consist of outrageous colors, swirls, patterns, cat-eye pupils, starburst patterns, and even blackout and whiteout effects. The blackout and whiteout effects are made with what is called scleral lenses. They cover more than just the iris of the eye; they cover the entire visible part of the eye. They are only meant to be worn on special occasions for short periods of time. Scleral lenses had the contact lens side effects of irritation but extended to the entire visible part of the eye rather than just the iris and the cornea.

Special effect contact lenses are generally made with no vision correction, though some companies will custom make special effects lenses with prescriptions for an extra charge and with the extra wait time.

Proper cleaning and handling of contacts

While contact lenses are manufactured and packaged under very strict conditions, the fact that they are inserted directly onto the eye opens up the opportunity for contact lens side effects. A speck of dust or a truant eyelash trapped under a contact lens can feel as irritating as a grain of sand. Proper cleaning and handling of lenses will minimize the possibility of a foreign object making it into the eye.

Human error is almost always the cause of contact lens side effects, but there are people whose eyes simply cannot adjust to having a foreign object on them, and there are people with allergies to the materials the lenses are made from or the cleaning solutions that must be used with all contact lenses except for daily disposables.

In 2006, Bausch & Lomb, one of the largest, oldest, and most respected makers of contact lenses recalled one of its contact lens cleaning solutions, Renu, when it was associated with an eye fungus called Fusarium keratitis. Of the patients with the infection, most wore soft contact lenses and reported using Renu solution on them. However, a few of the patients reported that they did not use Renu, and several patients said they wore lenses overnight, which is associated with greater risk of infection regardless of lenses or solutions. But contact lens side effects like the outbreak of Fusarium keratitis are extremely rare.

Bifocal and monovision contacts

Perhaps the main reason people wear contact lenses is that they feel like they look better in contacts than they do with glasses. They are also convenient and do a great job of correcting vision. Contact lenses can now correct vision problems that required glasses to correct in the past. In addition to nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia, contact lenses can be made to correct for astigmatism and can even be made into bifocal contact lenses for people who hate the idea of wearing bifocals. Another contact lens technique that can take the place of bifocals is what is called monovision. With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision, and the other eye is corrected for close vision. After the patient’s eyes adjust to the new vision correction, they report not noticing that the correction is different for each eye and that the brain compensates for it, allowing clear distance and near vision.

The best candidates for wearing contact lenses include people who need correction all the time. People who wear glasses only part-time don’t always adjust to wearing contacts for extended periods. Potential contact lens wearers must be willing to commit to the time and effort of handling the lenses properly every time they are inserted, removed, and cleaned. People who play sports may find contact lenses superior due to the better peripheral vision compared to eyeglasses, and for reasons of safety.

People who should probably not wear contact lenses

People who should probably not wear contact lenses include those who are unwilling to commit to handling and storing them properly. People who have trouble using their hands, in cases of arthritis or other conditions may find that contact lenses are not worth the effort. People with uncontrolled diabetes, asthma, and allergies may find it difficult to adjust to contact lenses, as will people who have naturally dry eyes. Those with chronic infections of the cornea are far more prone to experiencing adverse contact lens side effects.

The fact is that millions of people worldwide wear contact lenses with no problems and no contact lens side effects. Anyone who is tired of wearing eyeglasses or who would like to see what they would look like with different colored lenses should consult their eye care professional about getting fitted for contacts.

Chamomile tea has been used down through the ages as a natural remedy for anxiety and insomnia. Can it help diabetics too?

Chamomile tea has long been enjoyed for its health benefits. An infusion prepared from the leaves of this daisy-like plant has been used for ages to reduce anxiety and treat insomnia. Now, new studies show that drinking chamomile tea could also help to prevent diabetes complications in those with diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in this country with seven percent of the population being affected, and some don’t even know it. This disease which causes persistently elevated blood sugar levels can damage almost every organ in the body including the heart, kidneys, retina, and nerves. Diet is one of the mainstays of treatment for diabetes, along with medications and insulin, but there may be a reason for diabetics to drink chamomile tea more often.

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea: Does It Prevent the Complications of Diabetes?

In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers gave diabetic rats an extract from the chamomile plant along with their regular diet. A second group of rats received no chamomile. Not only did the rats that received the chamomile extract have lower blood sugars, but they had lower levels of an enzyme called aldose reductase which converts glucose to sorbitol.

This is important because when sorbitol builds up, it damages nerves, which can lead to diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina of the eye). The health benefits of chamomile may go beyond stress and anxiety reduction – it could help to prevent the complications of diabetes too.

Other Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Drinking chamomile tea is not only a stress reliever, but it may have anti-bacterial effects as well. Some studies show it reduces the risk of gum disease, which is another condition diabetics often suffer from. There’s no shortage of claims for the health benefits of chamomile tea, but not all of them are proven in humans. Drinking chamomile tea should be approached with caution since some people experience allergic reactions to the plant, especially if they have an allergy to pollen.

Chamomile Tea to Prevent Diabetes Complications: The Bottom Line?

Drinking chamomile tea may not have the same benefits as taking a chamomile extract since an extract contains much higher concentrations of the active ingredient. Chances are a person would have to drink lots of chamomile tea to get the benefits seen in this study. Plus, this was a study in rats and can’t necessarily be extrapolated to humans. Although chamomile extract is currently sold by vitamin suppliers, it’s safest to await further research. Hopefully, further studies will show benefits for humans too.

In our Herbalist Profile Series, we’ve been giving you glimpses into the various types of herbalists we find in the world today. There are dozens and dozens of ways you can use your herbal education for personal enrichment or professional pursuit! So far in our series, we’ve talked about the profiles of a Family Herbalist... […]

Dreams are often synonymous with magic, personal achievement, and mystery. Although dreams are commonly disregarded, our dreams (both while awake and asleep) can serve as strong symbols and reference points for our personal journeys. For those of you who might have difficulty dreaming or remembering your dreams, there are a number of tools and herbs... […]

In our last post, we talked about what a Family Herbalist is and what that could look like in one’s life as an introduction to our Herbalist Profile Series. A Family Herbalist will often stick close to home, applying their herbal knowledge and resourcefulness to good use in order to support their family’s overall wellness.... […]

I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love. –Wendell Berry I’ve been thinking a lot about the briar lately—or more specifically, the rose. I see a need for the actions... […]

Herbalism comes in many shapes and sizes—there is certainly no one-size-fits-all for how you can practice and explore this lifestyle. There are many ways one can practice as an herbalist—one very popular way is being a Family Herbalist! A Family Herbalist is one who prefers to stay a little closer to home when putting their... […]

According to Ayurveda, each stage of human life is linked to one of the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha (Lad, 2009). In addition, the rhythm of our lives is characterized by cycles such as sleep cycles, the turning of the seasons, and the daily transition from night to day. Each of these cycles plays... […]

If you enjoy writing, and you’re looking for creative ways to make money from your herbal know-how, then submitting articles to magazines and reputable online platforms may be a great option for you. For seven years, I worked as the health editor for a well-known sustainable lifestyle magazine. I received dozens of pitches per week... […]

The last weeks of winter can oftentimes feel the most challenging. The initial brisk excitement of winter is behind us and the frigid days seem longer and more bone-chilling than ever. At this point of the season, we can start to feel a little “stir crazy” in anticipation of the warmer spring days ahead when... […]

We are all well aware that the modern American lifestyle is very stressful. When you look up stress management techniques, you will find that a soothing evening bath is frequently on the list. As herbal practitioners, we may use a full, soaking bath, or we may use a smaller version of the bath such as... […]

There’s nothing better than walking into the library or a bookstore and experiencing the joys of the printed word with one’s senses. Your eyes take in row upon row of books of various sizes, shapes, and colors. You smell the faint scent of ink and paper when a book is cracked open or flipped through.... […]